Tube-cleaner.



PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

G. W. DEAN.

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION rum M343. 1902. RENEWED MAR. 1, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. DEAN, OF FORT ERIE, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SHERWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TUBE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed March 13, 1902. Renewed March 1, 1904. Serial No. 196,052.

subject of the King of England, residing at Fort Erie, county of Welland, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube or Flue Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tube or flue cleaners of the rapper or knocker type. In this type of tube or flue cleaner the hammer or rapper has heretofore been pivoted to the casing, and inasmuch as it is necessary to make the casing of very small diameter in order to adapt the device for use in tubes or flues of small size it has not been possible to make the stroke as long or as powerful as fre quently necessary to satisfactorily clean the tube or flue of the scale or other foreign matter adhering thereto.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision in a tube or flue cleaner of a novel construction and arrangement of arts whereby a much greater length of stroTie of the hammer or rapper can be obtained than has heretofore been possible, so that the tube or flue may be effectually cleaned regardless of its size.

In this connection another object is to provide novel means for obtaining the greatest possible power in the hammering-action, and generally to minimize the wear and strain.

A further object of the invention is to satisfactorily overcome defective action of the piston and valve mechanism used in this type -of tube or flue cleaner.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of a tube or flue cleaner which will be positive and satisfactory in action, of simple construction, with rigidity of the fixed parts, and of great durability.

Having the foregoin objects in view, as well as others not speci'ically mentioned, the invention comprises certain improved features and novel combinations of parts set forth in detail hereinafter and recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an exterior view of the device; Fig. 2, a view of onehalf of the casing with the mechanisms in position; Fig. 3, a section taken on line 0c 00 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on line 1 y of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a detail of the cap at the steam or air receiving end of the cleaner; Fig. 5, an end view with the head of the cleaner removed, taken on line 2 z of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a section taken longitudinally of the connection between the piston-rod and the hammer, and Fig. 7 a detail of the block used in the connection shown in detail in Fig. 6.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate the longitudinal halves of the split casing, said halves being connected together by ears 3 and a bolt 4 at one end and by a head 5 at the steam or compressed-air receiving end, which is secured to the halves by bolts 6, which enter bolt-holes 7, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the halves of the casing are provided with the beveled or tapered portion 8, so that the rim'9 of the head fitting thereover causes the halves to be the tighter held together as the bolts 6 are tightened. At this end of the casing the halves thereof are provided with a groove 10, in which the flange 11 of the cap 12 is received. Said cap, which is shown in detail in Fig. 4 thus constitutes a solid end for one of the steam or air cylinders and will resist any steam or air pressure to which it will be subjected without strain on any fastening. Into the head 5 there is screwed. a coupling 13 for the hose 14 used to supply steam or compressed air pressure to the cleaner for operating it, and the coupling is hollow to permit the entrance of the steam or air to the chamber 15, formed at the end of the casing. The halves of the easin are provided with the two steam or air cylinders 16 and 17, and for each cylinder there is provided the port 18, through which the steam or air is supplied to the cylinders and exhausted from them. For the initial supply of the steam or air from the chamber 15 the twin ports 19 are provided in the respective halves of the casing, these ports being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and full lines in Fi 4. Fig. 4 also shows the port 18 for the cyhnder at the right in Fig. 2, which is of course duplicated for the cylinder at the left in Fig. 2. The twin ports 19 extend from the chamber or space 15 longitudinally of the casing to the enlarged feed chamber 20, which serves to distribute or feed the steam or air to the valve, and thence to either one or the other of the ports 18, according to the position of the valve. On the opposite side of the casing from the distributing-chamber 20 are the exhaust-ports 21, from which the steam or air issues, via the extension of these ports 22, to the end of the casing. The exhaust-ports 21 are separated by the portion 23 of the casing, which is directly opposite the distributing-chamber 20.

The piston-rod is shown at 24 and carries the twopistons 25 and 26, which are integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto, said pistons traveling in the cylinders 16 and 17. The numeral 27 designates the valve, which is provided with the annular channels 28 and 29 at its opposite ends, the integral rings 30, and the reduced ends 31. The pistons 25 and 26 are cupped or recessed annularly around the piston-rod 24, as shown at 32, which are adapted to receive the reduced ends 31 of the valve in alternation. This construction provides a cushioning action when the pistons strike the valve in alternation. The upper portion of the valve is cut away at 33, and this cut-out portion is of sufficient length to afford a communicating port or passage between the distributing-chamber 20 and either of the ports 18 according as the valve is shifted one way or the other; but another important advantage gained is that the pressure acinig thus on only one side of the valve causes it to bind somewhat on the opposite side of the casing where sliding back and forth across the exhaust-ports, for it W111 be observed that aside from this cut-out portion 33 the valve slides in the casing against a bore thereof. To limit the play of the valve on the piston-rod, slots 34 are provided in the opposite sides of the valve, which receive the prejecting ends of limit-pins 35, projecting from opposite sides of the casing. The pressure exerted on one side of the valve, as heretofore explained, prevents a rebounding of the valve which might otherwise occur when the valve had been suddenly shifted by the impact of a piston and the striking of the end of each pin against the valve at the ends of the slots to terminate the movement ofthe valve. I effectually overcome this difficulty by the utilization of the pressure as explained.

The numeral 36 designates a curved hammer or rapper which is adapted to travel in both the straight portion 37 and the curved portion 38, channeled out of the portions of the casing, and I find it advantageous to provide a steel or other suitable wear-plate 39 to protect the inner portion of the curve inasmuch as the friction of the hammer 36 at this point is considerable. The hammer s coupled at the piston-rod in the manner shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, where a block 40, having curved faces 41, is interposed between the reduced ends of the hammer and pistonrod, and these reduced ends are suitably curved to fit the curves 41, and the links 42 are usedon opposite sides of the hammer and piston-rod and pivoted thereto by pins 43. A flexible joint is thus provided between the hammer and the piston-rod, so that the hammer can be retracted into the straight portion 37 or projected laterally through the distributes the pressure, both direct and reactionary, between the hammer and the piston-rod and receives the force of the blow, thus preventing undue strain on the plate 42 or pins 43. It will be understood that this block 40 is not connected positively to the other parts, but is held solely by its shape and relative position to them.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The steam or compressed air introduced through the coupling 13 passes into the chamber 15, thence through the ports 19 to chamber 20, where it flows into the recess 33 of the valve. Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fi 2, the steam or air then passes into right-hand port 18 and exerts its pressure against piston 26, impelling the latter toward the left and projecting the hammer to the position shown in dotted lines and causing it to rap or strike against the tube or flue into which the device has been introduced for purposes of cleaning thereof. The piston when near the end of its stroke strikes the valve and rapidly forces it to the left; but the blow is cushioned, as before described, and the valve assumes its new position with the ends 35 at the righthand ends of the slots. The peripheral channel 29 will then permit the steam or air to exhaust back through the right-hand port 18 and exhaust-port 21 at the right and out through the passage 22, while the recess 33 will place the port or chamber 20 in communication with the left-hand port 18, where upon the steam or air will act on piston 25 and force it toward the right, which accomplishes the withdrawal of the hammer or rapper. The reciprocations are carried on with great rapidity, and the action of each piston is the same as that of the other, the pistons being alternately directly acted on by the steam or air pressure. It will be observed that inasmuch as the hammer is movable as an entirety, rather than pivoted as in former constructions, the power of the stroke or blow is only limited by the length of travel of the pistons in their chambers and as the chambers or cylinders may be made of any desired length the blow can be as heavy as needed for the work.

While I have herein shown and described the mechanism for operating the hammer, I do not claim the same in this application, since the same is fully shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 195,959.

I am aware that various changes of construction and modification of parts could be resorted to in carrying out my invention without interfering with its eneral mode of operation or depriving it of its spirit and IIC scope, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, but consider that I am entitled to all modifications falling within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tube or flue cleaner, the combina tion with a casing made in separable parts and provided with a cylinder and grooves which match and form an annular groove, of a removable head for the cylinder comprising a circular member or cap which has a flange received in the annular groove.

2. In a tube or flue cleaner, the combination with a casing formed in separable parts each having a semi-annular ledge at one end which match and form an annular ledge extending outwardly from said end, said ledge being provided with a taper or bevel, of a head adapted for connection to the parts of the casing and provided with a flange adapted to engage the beveled portion on the annular ledge.

3. In a tube or flue cleaner, the combination, with a cylinder; of a piston-rod provided with a piston having a cup or recess in its face surrounding the piston-rod, and a valve through which the piston-rod slides having a projecting portion surrounding the piston-rod, and adapted to telescope inthe cup or recess and thereby cushion the impact of the piston with the valve.

4. In a tube or flue cleaner, the combination, with cylinders; of a piston-rod provided with pistons each having a cup or recess in its face surrounding the piston-rod and a valve through which the piston-rod slides having projecting portions surrounding the piston-rod and adapted to telescope in the cups or recesses and thereby cushion the impact of the pistons with the valve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'lfiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE DEAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. Bum), WILLIAM T. FITZPATRIOK. 

